David Helluin drove TEC E MOUV’s PePHyT to 155.01 kph (96.32 mph) on the Canal de Caen on September 22, taking the UIM Circuit Outright Electric world record. The previous mark of 142.6 kph was held by Jaguar Vector Racing.
That outright figure was what the team came to Caen for in May, when Helluin set the Circuit Electric Unlimited Voltage Hydroplane record at 140.41 kph but fell short of the Jaguar Vector mark in hot conditions. Four months later he cleared it by 12.41 kph.
The team made two complete attempts on the day. On the first, Helluin raised his own Unlimited Voltage Hydroplane record to 142.94 kph (88.82 mph). The team then went through the data and the driving before sending him out again, and on the second run the boat handled cleanly from start to finish for the 155.01 kph outright record.
| UIM No. | Category | kph | mph |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3966 | Circuit Outright Electric | 155.01 | 96.32 |
| 3965 | Circuit Electric Unlimited Voltage Hydroplane | 142.94 | 88.82 |
What Changed Since May
Weeks of technical analysis after the May attempt traced the shortfall to faulty electronic components inside the powertrain, which were cutting the motor, particularly in hot weather. Once that was fixed, the team was confident the cuts would stop.
Over the summer break the team also worked with hull builder Moore Formula on modifications to improve the boat’s balance. Test sessions through the summer ran without problems, and after checking every part of the boat the team committed to a fresh attempt at the end of September.
PePHyT runs an 800V, 170kW electric powertrain derived from automotive technology, developed with project partner IFP Énergies Nouvelles (IFPEN). The UIM records list credits the engine to IFPEN and the hull to Moore. The project is supported by Région Normandie and by the French state through its France 2030 programme.
Hydroplane and Outright
The Unlimited Voltage Hydroplane record is a sub-category within electric hydroplane racing, defined by battery voltage. The Circuit Outright Electric record sits above every electric sub-category and is open to any boat regardless of voltage class. PePHyT now holds both.
The Target From the Start
The Unlimited Voltage record, by the team’s own account, was never what PePHyT was built for. In a statement to Powerboat News, the team said:
“Since the beginning of the project launched by TEC E MOUV, the only ‘performance’ goal was to beat the World Speed Record in Circuit Electric Outright set by Jaguar VECTOR. So achieving this after months of hard work from everyone was a great moment for all the team, the company, but also all the technical and safety partners of the global project.”
The team added:
“This new world record means a lot for us because it’s the symbol of never stop working.”
TEC E MOUV, the engineering group whose brands include TechnoMAP, has not yet said what comes next for the boat. “Now as a company we have to think of the next step for this boat and will obviously look at all the opportunities,” the team said.
Record Attempt Video
John Moore is the editor of Powerboat News, an independent investigative journalism platform recognised by Google News and documented on Grokipedia for comprehensive powerboat racing coverage.
His involvement in powerboat racing began in 1981 when he competed in his first offshore powerboat race. After a career as a Financial Futures broker in the City of London, specialising in UK interest rate markets, he became actively involved in event organisation and powerboat racing journalism.
He served as Event Director for the Cowes–Torquay–Cowes races between 2010 and 2013. In 2016, he launched Powerboat Racing World, a digital platform providing global powerboat racing news and insights. The following year, he co-founded UKOPRA, helping to rejuvenate offshore racing in the United Kingdom. He sold Powerboat Racing World in late 2021 and remained actively involved with UKOPRA until 2025.
In September 2025, he established Powerboat News, returning to independent journalism with a focus on neutral and comprehensive coverage of the sport.
